Abdominal ultrasound

The standard abdominal ultrasound includes the examination of the condition of liver, pancreas, gallbladder and spleen. The ultrasound allows the diagnostician to determine the structure and sizes of these organs, the thickness of their walls, and, based on these data, the doctor can detect the presence of diseases in the child.

The pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist orders the ultrasound exam as per the results of the child’s examination or, based on his complaints, if the child is old enough to determine them. The matter is that little children cannot complain about what specifically bothers them – this ability appears in them, when they turn six.

The indications for abdominal ultrasound are:

• bad appetite;
• bowel disorders;
• bitter taste in the mouth;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pain in the right hypochondrium.

Before performing the ultrasound, the child should be prepared in order the results of the examination are precise. The main requirement – the ultrasound should be performed on the empty stomach (the child should not eat anything for 8-12 hours before the examination); that is why the ultrasound is usually scheduled for morning time, in order the fasting causes minimum discomfort in the child.

If the examination is performed not on the urgent basis, but is scheduled in advance, then for several days before the ultrasound, you should exclude from your diet the products, which cause flatulence (for example, legumes).

In case with nursing babies, it is enough to estimate the time of visit to the doctor, so that the ultrasound is performed before the next breastfeeding. This is due to the fact that the child’s organism absorbs milk much quicker.

The doctor also needs to know the height of the child, as when the child’s organism grows, the norms of sizes of internal organs change.

The ultrasound examination is a safe and painless procedure, which does not take much time. During the examination, the child lies on his back, and the doctor examines the condition of internal organs through the wall of the stomach by using the ultrasound sensor. In some cases, the doctor can turn the child on one side or ask him to take a deep breath or hold a breath – it is needed for better visualization of internal organs.

After performing the examination, the doctor establishes the diagnosis and prescribes treatment or, if necessary, recommends additional examinations.

In Oxford Medical clinic, the qualified specialists perform ultrasound on the expert class ultrasound scanner that allows obtaining maximally precise and reliable results.

You can make appointment for the abdominal ultrasound in Oxford Medical clinic by calling us or filling out the form on our website.